Chapter 40

              Cushane's pov

(An example of Lamais's dress robes).
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  I was on my knees praying when I heard a text came in from Lamais, I finish saying my prayer before seeing what it says.

L͜͡a͜͡m͜͡a͜͡i͜͡s͜͡
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬.

  I immediately felt good and texted back a response.

C͜͡u͜͡s͜͡h͜͡a͜͡n͜͡e͜͡
𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬.

  The scripture says faith without works is death, I intend to put in the work for what I want so the next morning I call up Roelly and had her put in some orders for me. Lamais loves beautiful things and she certainly deserves them, I went to her house to check if everything was alright and talk with Christopher that evening. He was more than glad for the company and excitedly tells me about the progress he was making.

  We went over to the plot of land where he wanted to build his house, he explains how he was going to build one room then a bathroom when he made and save up enough money. It was a nice piece of land and a thought struck me, soon someone was going to want to build on the other side of Lamais's yard and so I say to him.

  "I'll make you a deal, if you clear and fence around the land on the other side of Lamais's yard I'll buy you the first two hundred blocks to build your house."

  He looked at me then ask. "Are you serious?"

  "Yes," I reply.

  He nodded then say. "Mi e deal wid it man nuh sey a word."

  "Good, because judging by what I've seen and learnt, somebody will come and try to lay claim to that piece of land if we do not act soon. I doubt she wants just anyone living beside her, it can be used as a reserve parking space, a farm, or something in future," I reasoned with his responses in between being.

"True,"

"Real talk."

We walk back over to Lamais's house whilst discussing the fencing materials and the amount it was going to cost, Kareem was now sitting on the verandah doing his homework and I glance inside the house for a minute before taking my leave.

  On the drive home I think about what my life will be like living with Lamais, I know I couldn't just do as everyone does I would have to live an exemplary life. I was sorry I could not have gone to the convention with her and my church brethren, but promise myself that when we were married I will make it a point of my duty to go with her on all those trips.

  Dinner was the two fishes that Christopher had given me and some left over macaroni cheese pie, the lemonade was refreshing and I wash up the things afterwards then showered and wait for Roelly or Simeon to send pictures or videos of Lamais's performance.

                Lamais's pov

  Dressed in the colors like the choir and ushers, I step inside the church and all eyes turn on me. Shanty carries my robe to the bishops office while the others organized themselves, I greeted all of those who were already seated upon the rostrum in one big greeting and sit on the seat the moderator directed me to.

  The church was filling up rapidly and the moderator begins the service with a lively prayer hymn. The host choir sings a lively chorus immediately after the first prayer and the church was on a high, I wonder if it was just coincidence why Pastor Lester was sitting beside Bishop Kindler and that they certainly had a lot to talk about. Not my business I tell myself as my choir begin singing a revival selection of songs.

Our father who art in Zion...
Hallowed be they name...
Thy.. kingdom come on earth...
Thy will be done on earth....

A nuh one prayer mi pray, mi pray ina night and my pray ina day...
And any time mi guh pon mi knees all demons affi run wey...

  I stood and sang while rocking to the lively selection of songs, I was put on to preach immediately after the collection of the nights offering and I greeted God, who is the head of my life and everyone who was present.

  "Stand on your feet everywhere and praise the Lord, worship God, worship God, worship God," I said then pause before saying.

"If you come here tonight to not worship then leave, dislike me now and love mi later when the holy ghost open up your understanding. I don't come here to look pretty, a come to worship and preach the word of God. Suh if yuh come here tonight to chat people and watch people, di blood a Jesus is against yuh. Open yuh mouth and worship God, say di blood.... di blood.... di blood.."

"I am a warrior, a christian warrior, wid mi weapon ina mi right hand,
I am a warrior, a holy ghost warrior, wid mi weapon ina mi right hand..."

  "Some a yuh aguh leave wid di blood tonight, and a doe mean goat blood nor fowl blood. Am talking di blood that reverse all curse and evil set up against your life, cut and clear. Uno think mi care who nuh like me, ask yuh neighbor, say neighbor, yuh think mi care who nuh like mi? I don't. God favors me, his hands are upon me, his mighty angels have charge over my life." [Pause]

  "No weapon, no filth filled mouth can stop God's blessings upon my life, tell your neighbor that the weapon of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God. Hallelujah," I said jumping as the holy ghost took up residence.

  "Worship the Lord."

  "Hallelujah!" The church says.

  "Worship the Lord."

  I was in a no nonsense mood, I had only one aim and that was to preach and leave. "Let mi get to di meet of the matter because I don't duh long sermons, a come to lick it mek it buss suh who need fi deliver can be delivered," I said then preach for twenty minutes before closing it with this song.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

  As usual I have the church in a dancing holy ghost frenzy, I was in my element worshipping the Lord.

"Lord I am worried...
I am troubled...
I am worried about my soul....
Please help me Jesus, to make an hundred..
Cause ninety-nine and a half won't do..." I sang.

"Worship the Lord church, worship the Lord. Send up those praises and let the blessings come down," I said between singing along with the choir.

  "Turn to yuh neighbor and tell dem neighbor, careful how yuh a murder di person wid yuh mouth because that person just might be appointed!" I shouted the latter.

  A barrage of hallelujahs and repetition of what I say went around before I begin to speak again. "Some of us as church leaders wi chat and tear dung wi one aneda den expect our members to do better, how can they?! When the only example yuh set is the one that is leading them straight to hell."

  I know I must sound like I am throwing words, but I can't play hypocrite and I cannot seem to preach differently. "Loose mi, the blood of Jesus against every tongue that is uttering lies about mi. Burrrrrnnnn up the wicked, set dem on fire! Plead my cause against them that fight against me without a cause, Jahovah!"

The holy spirit was upon me and I was speaking in tongues, I was spinning my roll and I was moving. The cymbals crashed and I began to jump, then I was off the rostrum like a bullet from a gun.

"Worship the Lord!" I shouted.

  I spun at the back of the church and walk back up the aisle, I walk to where the choirs is and look across at pastor Lester and the others who were in spirit on the rostrum. I look away not wanting the deep dislike my spirit held towards her to hinder my preaching.

"Stop coming to church and playing church--" I was saying when I heard.

"Boop!"

"Praise the Lord," I shouted while Bishop Shimand help up pastor Lester who had just fell to the ground.

"Worship the Lord church, shout glory! Save yourselves now because tomorrow will be too late. If you don't like me that's your business, I come to praise the Lord who saves and who delivers, a come to win souls and cause to be baptized, I come to tell you the baptismal pool is waiting and the alter of God is Open!"

  With that I pointed to the alter then walk slowly to the rostrum singing. "I have a God who never fails....

  After the service ends it was to our coaster bus immediately, people crowded around the bus as we reach the exit gate and security personnel had to come and remove them. I think most of them wants a reading and some may just want to speak to me, I smile sadly thinking how different my life had become from the one I had envision.

  Glad that the hotel catered for us that night when we returned in need of replenishment, I sat down to eat with my members. The hotel manager was present and I look around at the saddened curious faces of the waitresses who kept glancing at me. I stood and walk over to one who glanced nervously towards the manager, I wave at the manager then begin reading her quietly.

  I tell her to have the other staff members write what they wanted and place it in envelopes and I'll see how best I can minister to them.

To be continued....